I-65 Theft Ring Found With $58,000 Necklace: Franklin Police

FRANKLIN, TN — A quartet of thieves wreaking havoc up and down the Interstate 65 corridor were arrested at the Cool Springs Chili's, according to Franklin Police, and a high-price, highly sentimental necklace was found in their ill-gotten plunder.

On July 21, a Nashville woman's purse was stolen at the Old Hickory Boulevard Target. That woman followed the use of her stolen credit card to track the thieves. Target store security, meanwhile, alerted Franklin Police to be on the lookout and the department put extra patrols in Cool Springs on the off-chance they'd see the suspects. And, indeed, the four suspects were spotted and arrested at the Cool Springs Chili's. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Middle Tennessee Patch morning newsletter.)

Police said a search of the suspects' car revealed several purses from states all along the I-65 corridor and inside the purse of an Ohio woman was a $58,000 necklace. As detectives worked to tie the purses to their rightful owners, they learned that not only is the necklace extremely valuable monetarily, but it also has deep sentimental value.

The necklace was the final gift the woman received from her husband who died recently.

The four suspects, from Illinois and Mississippi, are charged with numerous crimes:

• Robert Jones of Vicksburg, Miss.: Held for federal authorities on unrelated charges and charged locally with identity theft, fraudulent use of a credit card and resisting arrest.
• Aaron Carter of Chicago: Charges include felon in possession of a gun, identity theft and fraudulent use of a credit card. He remains jailed on a $50,000 bond.
• Alexandra Temme of Chicago: Charged with identity theft and fraudulent use of a credit. She remains jailed on a $35,000 bond.
• Kennisha Copeland of Chicago: Charged with identity theft, fraudulent use of a credit card and tampering with evidence. She is free on a $50,000 bond.

Images via Franklin Police